“So much for pretending, Prince.” He dips the cloth into the pail, shrugging at my words. “I’ll have the rest of my life to pretend with you. But for now, I needed to keep you alert.” “You were distracting me,” I breathe, eyes dropping to the blood coating my hands. My stained palms are quickly covered by the damp cloth he places over them. “And I will happily be your distraction from pain. For as long as you need.”
